Patents Examined by Alex Efta
  • Patent number: 9882219
    Abstract: A method of making a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) includes forming a first sublayer of a first electrode on a first side of a planar solid oxide electrolyte and drying the first sublayer of the first electrode. The method also includes forming a second sublayer of the first electrode on the dried first sublayer of the first electrode prior to firing the first sublayer of the first electrode, firing the first and second sublayers of the first electrode during the same first firing step, and forming a second electrode on a second side of the solid oxide electrolyte.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: BLOOM ENERGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Emad El Batawi, Patrick Munoz, Dien Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9873586
    Abstract: A manually operated taping device has a drawback mechanism to draw back the landing end of the tape immediately after the tape is cut and tape tension removed by extending a tape path between the tape source from which the tape is dispensed and an applicator for applying the tape and/or by minimizing the spacing between the applicator and the cutting knife used to cut the tape at the time the tape is cut. The device may also include a guide to better ensure the device is moved during tape application in the direction relative movement between the tape and device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2018
    Assignee: LAMUS TECHNOLOGIES INC.
    Inventor: Joe Augustine S. T. Lam
  • Patent number: 9868276
    Abstract: A method of forming an improved sealed joint between two or more shaped ceramic structures includes providing at least first and second ceramic structures joined together by a joint comprising one or more of silicon, a silicon alloy and a silicon compound, the joint including an exposed portion interior of the joined structures, then converting at least a portion of the one or more of silicon, a silicon alloy, and a silicon compound of the joint to silicon nitride and/or silicon carbide, desirably at least at an interior exposed portion of the joint, so as to provide increased chemical resistance for the joint when aggressive chemicals are used within device formed from the sealed-together ceramic structures. The ceramic structures desirably comprise silicon carbide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Corning Incorporated
    Inventors: Khaled Layouni, Yanxia Ann Lu, Paulo Gaspar Jorge Marques
  • Patent number: 9868556
    Abstract: A hand-held handle dispenser comprising: a main frame (12) having a handle (14), an adhesive tape roll (16) provided at a rear side of the main frame for delivering an adhesive tape, an application roller (18) provided at the front side of the main frame for applying the adhesive tape on a parcel and a cutting blade (20) for cutting the adhesive tape, a cartridge (22) for storing at least one insert strip (24) and transport and affixing means (26, 28) for conveying said at least one insert strip from the cartridge to the application roller and affixing it against the adhesive tape to form a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Assignee: Neopost Technologies
    Inventor: Yann Le Rigoleur
  • Patent number: 9834401
    Abstract: A tape dispenser includes a first arm, a second arm, a holder, a roller, a retaining device, a blade, spring(s) and one or more guides. The tape dispenser is positioned on a tape roll by positioning the holder on the inside of the tape roll and positioning the roller and retaining device on the outside of the tape roll. Tape is able to be pulled through the tape dispenser and then cut using the blade. After the tape is cut, the tape on the roll remains on the retaining device for easy access. The tape dispenser is also removable for use with many tape rolls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: Wagic, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth R. Johnson, Yugen Patrick Lockhart, Steven Simas Escobar
  • Patent number: 9829459
    Abstract: A method of depositing reagent on an electrochemical test sensor adapted to determine information relating to an analyte includes providing a base and forming an electrode pattern on the base. The method further includes depositing the reagent on at least the electrode pattern using a reagent-dispensing system. The reagent-dispensing system applies mechanical force to the reagent in the reagent-dispensing system to assist in providing a wet reagent droplet on at least the electrode pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: Ascensia Diabetes Care Holdings AG
    Inventors: Boru Zhu, Herbert Henley, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9827708
    Abstract: A tape applicator assembly for securing at least one cable within a corner defined by a first surface and a second surface that includes a body moveable along the at least one cable positioned on the first surface, a tape-receiving cavity defined in the body for receiving a tape assembly having tape, wherein the tape assembly is receivable within the tape-receiving cavity such that the tape is positioned for dispensing from the body, and a tape applying assembly defined within the body. The tape applying assembly is configured to adhere the tape to both the at least one cable and the first and second surfaces defining the corner as the body moves along the at least one cable on the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: GaffTech, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan D. Harkless, Daniel T. Kretz, Jason P. Covey
  • Patent number: 9782963
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a graphene roll-to-roll transfer method, a graphene roll-to-roll transfer apparatus, a graphene roll manufactured by the graphene roll-to-roll transfer method, and uses thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 10, 2017
    Assignee: Graphene Square, Inc.
    Inventors: Byung Hee Hong, Jonghyun Ahn, Sukang Bae, Hyeong Keun Kim
  • Patent number: 9779876
    Abstract: A ceramic body is prepared that includes an inner electrode disposed inside the ceramic body and in which an end portion of the inner electrode is led to a surface of the ceramic body. An electrode layer is formed on the surface of the ceramic body so as to cover the end portion of the inner electrode, the electrode layer containing a resin, a first metal filler that contains a first metal component, and a second metal filler that contains a second metal component having a higher melting point than the first metal component. A heating step of heating the electrode layer is performed to form an electrode including a metal layer that is located on the surface of the ceramic body and that contains the first and second metal components and a metal contained in the inner electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Murata Manufactruing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kota Zenzai, Hisayoshi Omori, Takashi Kanayama, Kiyoyasu Sakurada, Naoki Shimizu, Seiji Katsuta, Shinji Otani
  • Patent number: 9764535
    Abstract: A method for making a thin ceramic part involves making a casting slurry including a ceramic powder, a solvent, a binder, a plasticizer, and a dispersant. The casting slurry is tape casted to achieve a single layer green tape. At least two single layer green tapes are laminated to form a green tape lamination. The green tape lamination is dry pressed, dried, shaped, degreased, and fired to achieve the exterior component required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2017
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Zhi-Peng Xie, Hong-Yan Yan, Yu-Xi Liao
  • Patent number: 9757976
    Abstract: Assemblies and methods for applying painter's tape to a wall for painting stripes thereon wherein the assembly has a first elongated body with a first straight outer edge, a second elongated body having a second straight outer edge with a substantially transparent body and having a tape width guide marking substantially along the elongated body with a plurality of elongated markings parallel to the second straight outer edge, two or more arms each having ends rotatably coupled to the first and second elongated bodies respectively, each of the arms being spaced apart of another and coupled at different positions of the elongated bodies, and a coupling mechanism rotatably coupling an arm to one of the elongated bodies and having a locking feature selectively fixing the angular position of the coupling mechanism and preventing rotation of the rotatably coupled arm relative to the coupled elongated body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: John Menendez
  • Patent number: 9754907
    Abstract: A method for use with multiple chips, each respectively having a bonding surface including electrical contacts and a surface on a side opposite the bonding surface involves bringing a hardenable material located on a body into contact with the multiple chips, hardening the hardenable material so as to constrain at least a portion of each of the multiple chips, moving the multiple chips from a first location to a second location, applying a force to the body such that the hardened, hardenable material will uniformly transfer a vertical force, applied to the body, to the chips so as to bring, under pressure, a bonding surface of each individual chip into contact with a bonding surface of an element to which the individual chips will be bonded, at the second location, without causing damage to the individual chips, element, or bonding surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: CUFER ASSET LTD. L.L.C.
    Inventors: Roger Dugas, John Trezza
  • Patent number: 9736970
    Abstract: A component package tape is transported to a pitch feed mechanism section by a tape transport device and is held in a first tape holding section by a tape holding releasing device. Furthermore, a top tape adhered to a carrier tape that is transported to the pitch feed mechanism section is peeled from the carrier tape by a top tape peeling section while being clamped at a leading end section, is transferred to a top tape delivery mechanism section, and is held in a second tape holding section by the tape holding releasing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: FUJI MACHINE MFG. CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Tomohisa Kanda, Masaki Kurono, Takehiro Ido, Tomoharu Yoshino
  • Patent number: 9717150
    Abstract: A method for fabricating a biocompatible hermetic housing including electrical feedthroughs, the method comprises providing a ceramic sheet having an upper surface and a lower surface, forming at least one via hole in said ceramic sheet extending from said upper surface to said lower surface, inserting a conductive thick film paste into said via hole, laminating the ceramic sheet with paste filled via hole between an upper ceramic sheet and a lower ceramic sheet to form a laminated ceramic substrate, firing the laminated ceramic substrate to a temperature to sinter the laminated ceramic substrate and cause the paste filled via hole to form metalized via and cause the laminated ceramic substrate to form a hermetic seal around said metalized via, and removing the upper ceramic sheet and the lower ceramic sheet material from the fired laminated ceramic substrate to expose an upper and a lower surface of the metalized via.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2017
    Assignee: Second Sight Medical Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Ok, Robert J Greenberg
  • Patent number: 9701072
    Abstract: A method of repairing matrix microcracks in MI-CMC components includes heating “free” silicon phase present within the cracked matrix portion of the component to a temperature above the melting point of the silicon phase. During heating of the component an additional source of silicon phase is supplied to the component. The atmosphere about the component is controlled during the heating of the component. The MI-CMC component is cooled below the melting point of the silicon phase to cool and solidify the silicon phase that has migrated into the microcracks to thereby bond the crack faces together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gregory Scot Corman
  • Patent number: 9702490
    Abstract: The present disclosure describes silicon carbide articles useful at high temperatures, and the method of making them. The method includes: providing a plurality of silicon carbide parts; providing a mullite gasket; placing the gasket between the ends of the parts to be joined to thereby form an assembly; applying a load in the range of 15-25 pounds per square inch to the parts' ends distal from the gasket to thereby press the gasket; heating the assembly in a muffle furnace under load to a temperature in the range of 1450° C. to 1550° C.; increasing the load on the to range of 30-50 pounds per square inch and holding the assembly at the temperature for a time in the range of 2-5 days to adhere the mullite gasket to the ends of the silicon carbide parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: CORNING INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Nicolas LeBlond, Mehrdad Mahmoudi
  • Patent number: 9701587
    Abstract: Provided is a method for producing an inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic material, which can produce, at a high yield, an inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic material with fewer defects, and with an end part and a central part equivalent to each other in microstructure and mechanical properties, and also makes it possible to increase the ceramic material in size. The method for producing an inorganic fiber-bonded ceramic material is characterized in that it includes: a first pressing step of setting, in a carbon die, a laminate to be surrounded by a ceramic powder, the laminate obtained by stacking a coated inorganic fiber shaped product including an inorganic fiber part of inorganic fibers that have a pyrolysis initiation temperature of 1900° C. or lower, and a surface layer of an inorganic substance for bonding the inorganic fibers to each other, and pressing the laminate at a temperature of 1000 to 1800° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Ube Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Kenji Matsunaga, Shinji Kajii, Shohei Suizu, Tsutomu Kodama
  • Patent number: 9630849
    Abstract: A method for transferring a carbon nanotube array is disclosed. The carbon nanotube array has an ability to have a carbon nanotube structure drawn therefrom. The carbon nanotube array is transferred from a growing substrate to a substitute substrate, meanwhile the carbon nanotube array is still configured for drawing the carbon nanotube structure from the substitute substrate. A coating layer is formed on a top end of a carbon nanotube in the carbon nanotube array. The top end is away from the growing substrate. The substitute substrate is placed on the carbon nanotube array and contacted with the coating layer. Thereby the substitute substrate is combined with the carbon nanotube array by the coating layer. The substitute substrate is separated from the growing substrate. Thereby the carbon nanotube array is separated from the growing substrate. A method for making a carbon nanotube structure is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yang Wei, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Patent number: 9630385
    Abstract: A carrier film of thermoplastic polyester has releasable metal adhesive properties suitable for a metal transfer in which the polyester film is metalized and the metal layer is subsequently transferred to a permanent adhesive-coated substrate. The metal layer is in direct contact with the polyester carrier film and no intermediate release layer is present. Desired metal adhesion is provided by dispersing a suitable surfactant, and optionally, a hydrocarbon wax, uniformly into the polyester film. Surfactant on the outer surface of the carrier film modifies metal adhesion to the polyester such that the metal can be removed in a metal transfer operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Toray Plastics (America), Inc.
    Inventor: Jan Moritz
  • Patent number: 9634235
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a liquid ejecting head including a laminate formed of a flow path substrate having a flow path communicating with nozzle openings that eject a liquid, a first electrode, a piezoelectric layer, and a second electrode, the method including stacking the first electrode, the piezoelectric material, the second electrode, and a reinforcing member on top of one another to form a laminate; heating the laminate to form a piezoelectric layer made of the piezoelectric material; bonding the laminate to the flow path substrate on a first electrode side; and removing the reinforcing member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2017
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Junhua Zhang